2020 was a 12 months of super progress within the cryptocurrency trade. We noticed Bitcoin attain new highs, as famend monetary establishments invested on this revolutionary asset class and enthusiasm throughout the market bounced again.
Final 12 months, bitFlyer Europe carried out the survey in European nations measuring the consciousness and religion within the way forward for crypto. Again then two thirds of Europeans admitted to having religion that cryptocurrencies will nonetheless exist in 10 years’ time, nevertheless the bulk are nonetheless unsure how they are going to be used.
In September 2020, when evaluating our information from 2020 to 2018, we now have seen a rise in accounts opened by customers of their 20s within the first half of 2020 at group stage.
As a world cryptocurrency change that has workplaces, amongst others, in San Francisco, CA, and Tokyo, Japan, this time we determined to dive deep into the present state of investing and cryptocurrencies within the US and Japan, and discover the variations between these two huge and attention-grabbing markets. Our survey focused 3000 members aged 20-59 throughout Japan and the US.
Key findings from our analysis:
- Two-thirds of individuals within the US stated they’re interested by investing extra in monetary belongings in 2021.
- 30% of Individuals suppose Bitcoin/Cryptocurrencies might be a beautiful funding this 12 months, making it two instances extra standard than Gold and the 4th most chosen asset. The most well-liked asset was shares at 54%.
- 82% of the US inhabitants has heard about cryptocurrencies.
- Roughly 20% of respondents within the US are at present utilizing or have used cryptocurrencies previously.
- 76% of individuals within the US which have heard about crypto have a constructive notion about cryptocurrencies as an funding. In Japan, 78% of the respondents have a damaging notion, exhibiting a fairly sturdy distinction between the 2 areas.
- Our analysis exhibits that the present market sentiment amongst American traders is very bullish in comparison with the Japanese, reinforcing the argument that the final run-up in value was primarily pushed by US traders.
The State of Investing
Our analysis exhibits that 82% of individuals within the US put money into monetary belongings, with nearly a 3rd of the inhabitants allocating over 1 / 4 of their web value into investments. Then again, in Japan, 69% of individuals don’t put money into monetary belongings, exhibiting a big distinction throughout the 2 areas.
In each the US and Japan, males have a tendency to take a position greater than ladies, whereas additionally allocating a better share of their web value into their investments.
There’s additionally a big distinction within the outlook for investing this 12 months. 68% of respondents within the US are planning to take a position or proceed investing, whereas that determine is solely 18% in Japan.
Why are individuals investing in 2021?
Throughout the globe, probably the most standard causes individuals need to make investments this 12 months is to put together for the long run and improve their long-term web value. A big share of respondents need to diversify their revenue by investments and consider that investing is the strongest and quickest means to develop their capital.
“So as to construct your wealth, you’ll want to make investments your cash. Investing means that you can put your cash in automobiles which have the potential to earn sturdy charges of return. When you do not make investments, you’re lacking out on alternatives to extend your monetary value.” — (male in his 30s, US)
After final 12 months’s occasions, extra persons are taking note of the market in hopes of capitalizing on a potential financial rebound this 12 months.
“This can be a nice time to take a position, hopefully issues can solely get higher and go up.” — (feminine in her 30s, US)
Low rates of interest are additionally fueling individuals’s motivation to allocate their wealth into funding belongings. We are able to see an analogous development in Japan.
“Curiosity is simply too low for deposits and financial savings. I believe it’s higher to handle your capital with some danger” — (male in his 40s, Japan).
Why are individuals not trying to put money into monetary belongings?
There’s an attention-grabbing distinction in why persons are not trying to make investments throughout the 2 areas. Probably the most standard the explanation why individuals within the US will not be planning to take a position this 12 months is due to monetary challenges created by the COVID-19 disaster.
“I’ve no job at present, so no revenue. Cannot make investments what you do not have” — (male in his 30s, US)
“Cash could be very tight because of the pandemic” — (feminine in her 30s, US)
Our information exhibits that, logically, individuals with decrease incomes are 40% much less prone to make investments. This, amidst the current surge in COVID-19 instances and adjustments in energy within the US, has elevated individuals’s uncertainty and concern of what’s going to occur subsequent on the macroeconomic stage.
What’s most attention-grabbing, nevertheless, is that the principal purpose why Individuals don’t make investments isn’t due to the dangers of shedding cash. They primarily don’t do it as a result of they don’t have the required sources. In Japan, it’s a distinct story.
Whereas the financial impression from the COVID-19 disaster additionally impacted many individuals’s capability to put money into Japan, nearly all of those that stated that they don’t seem to be trying to make investments highlighted the potential dangers related to investing, relatively than an absence of sources to take action.
“I do not need to lose even 0.0001% of my cash. I do not need to put money into something that has the chance of shedding even a small sum of money. Nonetheless, if there’s a no-risk, high-return funding, I’ll undoubtedly do it” — (male in his 40s in Japan)
“I believe funding is identical as playing. I do not need to do harmful issues like shedding cash.” — (Male in his 30s in Japan)
“I do not know easy methods to do it, and it appears that there’s a excessive danger of loss.” — (feminine in her 30s in Japan)
There’s a transparent distinction within the sentiment in the direction of investing between the 2 areas. We see individuals within the US being much more open to investing and having a much bigger need to diversify their revenue by investing. In Japan individuals are inclined to have a way more cautious stance.
The State of Crypto
Cryptocurrency adoption is larger within the US than it’s in Japan. Within the US, 22% of respondents have invested in crypto in some unspecified time in the future – over 4 instances larger than Japan.
Equally with investing, the sentiment in the direction of cryptocurrencies is so much stronger within the US than it’s in Japan. 76% of the respondents within the US who’ve heard about cryptocurrencies have a constructive notion about cryptocurrencies as an funding, whereas in Japan it was the exact opposite.
What’s driving individuals’s constructive notion about cryptocurrencies?
Individuals like cryptocurrencies within the US and Japan for very comparable causes. Probably the most standard ones is the rising reputation of cryptocurrencies and its exceptional rise in value, which makes it a really enticing funding.
“Cryptos are rising at a quick charge and I really feel they may continue to grow and be very worthwhile” — (male in his 20s, US)
“I noticed within the information that the worth has elevated not too long ago” — (male in his 20s in Japan)
Nevertheless it’s not solely its run-up in value that’s getting individuals’s consideration. Many respondents highlighted crypto’s worth propositions and consider in its long-term worth.
“I really feel [cryptocurrencies] put you in management versus huge Wall avenue corporations. You should buy/promote 24/7. Some have mounted amount versus shares that may at all times problem new shares and so forth” — (male in his 50s, US)
“Cryptocurrency appears to be gaining momentum with the fallout of worldwide and nationwide forex techniques.” — (feminine in her 20s, US)
Furthermore, in 2020 we noticed a wave of establishments coming into the cryptocurrency area, and individuals within the US observed. Institutional participation solidified individuals’s long-term outlook for crypto, and even their notion of it.
“Giant establishments have been beginning to purchase crypto, which may drive up shortage and subsequently the worth. That, and after a decade it doesn’t look like it’s going wherever anytime quickly.” — (male in his 20s, US)
“I selected constructive as a result of I undoubtedly suppose it has leveled out now. To start with it was undoubtedly damaging (from what I heard). I believe it’s a brand new means of investing.” — (Feminine in her 20s, US)
Why do individuals have damaging perceptions about cryptocurrencies?
Whereas the worth of Bitcoin has elevated over 250% within the final 12 months, many individuals are nonetheless afraid of its excessive value volatility.
Moreover, after seeing many incidents corresponding to hacks and stories from mass media, many are involved in regards to the crypto’s safety dangers and utilization in the present day. In Japan, the place the overwhelming majority of individuals have damaging perceptions about crypto, these safety considerations had been paramount and deep-rooted into individuals’s perceptions.
“There was a digital forex incident within the information some time in the past.” — (male in his 40s, Japan)
“There’s a risk of somebody stealing it” — (male in his 30s, Japan)
Lastly, as with all new expertise, there’s a huge studying curve.
“I don’t know sufficient about it to have a constructive opinion” — (feminine in her 30s, US)
Many individuals don’t perceive cryptocurrencies effectively sufficient with a view to make a correct judgment about them, which finally impacts their notion. As individuals study extra about cryptocurrencies, we are able to anticipate this to alter sooner or later.
Which funding belongings do individuals suppose might be most tasty in 2021?
54% of respondents suppose shares might be a beautiful funding in 2021, making it the hottest asset within the US.
Crypto was two instances extra standard than Gold and likewise the 4th hottest asset, as 30% of Individuals consider it will likely be an enticing funding alternative. In Japan, crypto was the fifth hottest asset, as individuals favored different funding automobiles corresponding to Mutual Funds and FX.
Diving deeper into the totally different segments, we noticed that for traders within the US with the highest stage of expertise crypto was the third hottest asset. This group highlighted the excessive progress that cryptocurrencies have skilled currently and consider it will likely be probably the most worthwhile investments.
“ETFs are straightforward and low value foundation, actual property will at all times produce income and bitcoin is gaining steam and can proceed to in 2021” — (male in his 40s with greater than 10 years of funding expertise, US)
Then again, crypto was the second hottest asset amongst the least skilled traders. Crypto’s run-up in value and rising adoption spiked the curiosity of this group, which need to capitalize on the most recent developments out there.
Wrapping up
A big share of Individuals need to make investments this 12 months, as they view it as one of many only methods to extend their wealth. The other was true in Japan, the place traders have a extra conservative stance.
Furthermore, the adoption of cryptocurrencies within the US has grown considerably during the last 12 months, as we’ve seen an rising variety of American corporations allocating capital into this new asset class and increasing their providers to cowl this revolutionary expertise. The market sentiment is at present very constructive, particularly when in comparison with the Japanese market.
The outlook for cryptocurrencies this 12 months seems very promising within the US because it continues rising in reputation, particularly with the brand new technology of traders which favored the asset greater than anybody else. This may be a superb signal for Europe as training about cryptocurrency and the desire to diversify funding portfolios is at all times rising.
Regardless of the bearish sentiment in Japan, it stays as probably the most necessary markets on the planet and with probably the most structured regulatory frameworks globally.
Since 2014, our mission as a worldwide firm has been to supply the only and most safe solution to entry cryptocurrencies world wide. We plan to proceed specializing in providing the best stage of safety to our clients and new merchandise to supply extra worth.
Survey methodology
- Survey interval: January 5, 2021-January 11, 2021
- Goal group: A complete of three,000 customers (20-59 years previous) residing within the US and Japanese markets. Japan n = 2,000, USA n = 1,000
- The info of every market adjusts the composition of gender and age based mostly on the census outcomes in order that the developments of customers within the surveyed nations are accurately mirrored.
- Survey methodology: WEB questionnaire survey
* When utilizing the survey outcomes of this launch, please specify [Survey by bitFlyer USA.].
